QUESTION: The Blues are really struggling to win games and coach Andy Murray got the dreaded “vote of confidence” from owner Dave Checketts last week. Murray obviously did a great job getting this team to play well down the stretch last year to make a run to the playoffs, but do you believe he can take this current team to the next level?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD

Andy Murray proved last season that he could be a successful coach with this roster, taking the Blues from 15th place in the West to sixth place in two months time. However, what management wants to see is a “complete” season from a Murray-coached team.

It’s unfair to look back at the 2006-07 season because Murray didn’t arrive until Dec. 12, 2006. But let’s look at the last three seasons:

2007-08: 22-14-5 (49 points) in first half of season . . . 11-22-8 (30 points) in second half

2008-09: 16-22-3 (35 points) in first half of season . . . 25-9-7 (57 points) in second half.

2009-10: 6-8-4 (16 points) through 18 games . . .

There is no rhyme or reason as to why Murray’s teams are good for a half and bad for a half. Before he can coach the Blues to the “next level,” there has to be more consistency throughout the regular season.

JEFF GORDON

Right now Murray’s program has stalled out. So, at the moment, he doesn’t look like the right coach to move the program forward. He has to change that perception ASAP. This is one of those critical points that pop up from time to time in a coaching regime. If this team doesn’t produce a nice five- or six-game winning streak pretty soon, John Davidson will have to change things up. The veteran players are failing Murray at the offensive end — and such players are almost impossible to move in the salary cap era of the NHL. With rosters so difficult to overhaul these days, that really puts the pressure on coaches. That’s not fair, but that’s the way it is.

DAN O’NEILL

I don’t think Andy Murray will have any trouble taking this team to the next level, as long as David Backes (31 goals last season) scores more than once this season, as long as T. J. Oshie scores more than twice, as long as Paul Kariya gets another point – he hasn’t in 10 games, as long as Brad Boyes gets back the pace he’s shown the past couple of seasons, as long as Erik Johnson contributes more than one goal this season.

According to the most recent NHL stats, Murray hasn’t had a shot on goal all season. Only four teams in the league have a smaller goals-against average per game than the Blues’ average of 2.5. Coaching isn’t the problem.

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)

At times Andy Murray can be his own worst enemy. If Murray is going to have a chance to take this team to the next level he’s going to have to make some adjustments, most importantly how he runs his bench. A wise hockey man once told me every coach has a shelf life and it doesn’t take long before fatigue and illness sets in with a coach. Fatigue and illness kicks in when management gets sick and tired of the coach. Are we there yet? Coaches get fired, it’s a way of life. Maybe the biggest issue with Murray is that he focuses way too much on the opposition during a hockey game. Sometimes it’s just best to pay more attention to your own team and force the opponent to react to what you do. At the end of the day you have to win to keep your job and if Dave Checketts is serious with the words he said last week, then Murray better kick it in high gear before it’s too late. Same goes with the players who most definitely have yet to live up to their end of the bargain. The fact the Blues picked up Murray’s option certainly works in his favor. The Blues do not want to be in a position where they’re paying two coaches. If the teams doesn’t start winning they may not have a choice. The Blues will let this thing breathe for a few more weeks before they rush into any major shakeup.

I don’t think Andy Murray will have any trouble taking this team to the next level, as long as David Backes (31 goals last season) scores more than once this season, as long as T. J. Oshie scores more than twice, as long as Paul Kariya gets another point – he hasn’t in 10 games, as long as Brad Boyes gets back the pace he’s shown the past couple of seasons, as long as Erik Johnson contributes more than one goal this season.

According to the most recent NHL stats, Murray hasn’t had a shot on goal all season. Only four teams in the league have a smaller goals-against average per game than the Blues’ average of 2.5. Coaching isn’t the problem.

This is why Dan is seldom heard from.

It's the coach's job to get that out of their players. That's what they are (*#$&ing) paid for!

I don’t think Andy Murray will have any trouble taking this team to the next level, as long as David Backes (31 goals last season) scores more than once this season, as long as T. J. Oshie scores more than twice, as long as Paul Kariya gets another point – he hasn’t in 10 games, as long as Brad Boyes gets back the pace he’s shown the past couple of seasons, as long as Erik Johnson contributes more than one goal this season.

According to the most recent NHL stats, Murray hasn’t had a shot on goal all season. Only four teams in the league have a smaller goals-against average per game than the Blues’ average of 2.5. Coaching isn’t the problem.

This is why Dan is seldom heard from.

It's the coach's job to get that out of their players. That's what they are (*#$&ing) paid for!

Are they there to 'look good'? Murray Fails

Good interviews? Fail!

Keep the team and lines in order? Fail!

What does he do?

Yeah, we never should have fired Kitchen. He didn't allow any goals or have any shots the season and a half that we were the worst team in the NHL.

I don’t think Andy Murray will have any trouble taking this team to the next level, as long as David Backes (31 goals last season) scores more than once this season, as long as T. J. Oshie scores more than twice, as long as Paul Kariya gets another point – he hasn’t in 10 games, as long as Brad Boyes gets back the pace he’s shown the past couple of seasons, as long as Erik Johnson contributes more than one goal this season.

According to the most recent NHL stats, Murray hasn’t had a shot on goal all season. Only four teams in the league have a smaller goals-against average per game than the Blues’ average of 2.5. Coaching isn’t the problem.

Actually, the Blues average of 2.50 goals against is good for 8th best in the league (maybe their responses were given when in fact we were 5th best). The teams in the top 7 have an average 65.4% winning percentage to our 44.4%. We are bottom 5 in the league in winning percentage. We can build a 5-man fort around the goal to keep the goals against down (and tops in the league), but that only stifles our offensive game that much more. A coach doesn't need a talented team to keep the puck out of the net (grinders!!!). We need an offensive, attack the puck type system, and we need it soon.

If you didn't read any of this, here are some highlights. Mind you this was written by Kings fans over 2 years ago (almost 3 now)... it is kind of creepy how dead on some of their comments are. Apologizies for the length.

Quote:

He will do more with less than most coaches can...but, after a while, the players will stop listening. He plays mind games with the kids as well, works with some, doesn't work with others.

Once your in his doghouse, you don't get out.

Murray will bring discipline to the Blues, but I think in the end the players will find him to be inflexible.

It'll be interesting to see if the Blues injury toll goes up under Murray.

Sometimes he can be too detail oriented & it stifles player's creativity

The bottom line is, everything looks good in the beginning. Once all these settle, familiar complaints, injuries, and grudges will start to come out again

And the Blues announcers went on to talk about AM's fondness for slipping newspaper supplements into players lockers and under hotel room doors....

Has AM done the news article thing here in STL? That is kinda creepy...

_________________

[Dooger] 11:53 pm: Thank God you're here! Some Wings fans were in here trying to have sex with me.

I don’t think Andy Murray will have any trouble taking this team to the next level, as long as David Backes (31 goals last season) scores more than once this season, as long as T. J. Oshie scores more than twice, as long as Paul Kariya gets another point – he hasn’t in 10 games, as long as Brad Boyes gets back the pace he’s shown the past couple of seasons, as long as Erik Johnson contributes more than one goal this season.

According to the most recent NHL stats, Murray hasn’t had a shot on goal all season. Only four teams in the league have a smaller goals-against average per game than the Blues’ average of 2.5. Coaching isn’t the problem.

I can't stand it when people use that argument.It's Murray's job to get the most out of his players. Period.People who have been paying attention, know that this is a good team and should have a much better record than it does.If the blame doesn't fall on the head coach for their performance so far this season, when will it ever?

I don’t think Andy Murray will have any trouble taking this team to the next level, as long as David Backes (31 goals last season) scores more than once this season, as long as T. J. Oshie scores more than twice, as long as Paul Kariya gets another point – he hasn’t in 10 games, as long as Brad Boyes gets back the pace he’s shown the past couple of seasons, as long as Erik Johnson contributes more than one goal this season.

According to the most recent NHL stats, Murray hasn’t had a shot on goal all season. Only four teams in the league have a smaller goals-against average per game than the Blues’ average of 2.5. Coaching isn’t the problem.

I can't stand it when people use that argument.It's Murray's job to get the most out of his players. Period.People who have been paying attention, know that this is a good team and should have a much better record than it does.If the blame doesn't fall on the head coach for their performance so far this season, when will it ever?

Coaching is most definitely the problem here Dan.

I think a good example of this is Chan Gailey with the Chiefs last year. The offense had no one of any consequence, and he figured out how to make the offense perform at nearly league average for a pretty good stretch. He changed his style to fit his personnel.

Murray is too (Franking) arrogant to do this. He will fail because HE won't adapt, not because his players can't execute his system. There needs to be give and take. If he wants to play the benching and stuff, go ahead and coach in juniors or the NCAA cause it won't work for long with grown men.

If you didn't read any of this, here are some highlights. Mind you this was written by Kings fans over 2 years ago (almost 3 now)... it is kind of creepy how dead on some of their comments are. Apologizies for the length.

Quote:

He will do more with less than most coaches can...but, after a while, the players will stop listening. He plays mind games with the kids as well, works with some, doesn't work with others.

Once your in his doghouse, you don't get out.

Murray will bring discipline to the Blues, but I think in the end the players will find him to be inflexible.

It'll be interesting to see if the Blues injury toll goes up under Murray.

Sometimes he can be too detail oriented & it stifles player's creativity

The bottom line is, everything looks good in the beginning. Once all these settle, familiar complaints, injuries, and grudges will start to come out again

And the Blues announcers went on to talk about AM's fondness for slipping newspaper supplements into players lockers and under hotel room doors....

Has AM done the news article thing here in STL? That is kinda creepy...

back at that time I could not believe what was said about Murray...

Unfortunately every single word from Kings fans comes true. And now I'm starting to think that we must fire him before for example Berglund get 100% frustrated and we loose him as our top 6 forward forever...

The problem with Murray is pretty simple. He's a defensive-minded coach in a league which has changed the rules to reward more offensive style of play. Sure, defense will keep the GA per game down, but it won't win because a defensive system doesn't take advantage of things like the two-line pass, aggressive play in the neutral zone vice backing into your own zone, letting a skill player float sometimes to create unexpected opportunities, etc.

One reason Sergei Ovechkin scores so much, his coach let's him float on some shifts in which he never plays on his own side of center ice. Yes, he will be seen defensively sometimes, but not every shift - which is what's expected of every Blues forward on every shift. Yes, it's risky. But the reward is great. More offense at the expense of defense. The Blues could do this with some of their skilled forwards, but never even seem to attempt it, unless the guy is coming out of the penalty box.

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